This weekend, the New York Yankees were swept by the Boston Red Sox in a three-game series at Fenway Park, marking the second straight series loss to Boston this season. The Yankees also dropped a three-game set to the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium the previous weekend, and that brings their season record against Boston to 1 win and 5 losses.
In the series at Fenway, the Yankees scored a total of just four runs across all three games. Their team batting average for the series was .158, and they hit only four extra-base hits. This drop in offensive performance stood out, especially since the team had relied on consistent hitting earlier in the season.
Aaron Judge, usually the team’s most reliable hitter, struggled more than anyone else. He struck out nine times during the series, which made it difficult for the Yankees to create any momentum at the plate. Without production from Judge or the rest of the lineup, the Yankees were unable to support their pitchers, who otherwise kept the games competitive.
After Sunday’s 2-0 loss, Yankees manager Aaron Boone said the team had trouble scoring and pointed to the offense as the main reason for the loss. He said that the pitching staff did enough to keep games close and give the team a chance to win, but the lack of runs made it impossible to take advantage of that.
The Yankees also made several costly mistakes during the series. On Saturday, Jasson Dominguez lost track of the strike count during an at-bat. As a result, he ran when he should not have and was called out on the base paths. On Sunday, Ben Rice tried to steal a base with two outs but left too early and was picked off, ending the inning. Boone explained that Rice usually chooses his moments well, but in this case, the timing was wrong. Since there was a trail runner behind him, Boone said they needed to be more certain before making a move like that.
Sunday’s game included a moment that led to both Boone and DJ LeMahieu being ejected. In the 10th inning, with the game still tied, LeMahieu hit a sinker down the first base line. From the Yankees’ view, the ball touched the chalk, which would make it a fair ball. However, first base umpire Jeremie Rehak called it a foul. The Yankees challenged the ruling, and the replay center in New York reviewed the play. After a lengthy review, the call was upheld, and the ball was ruled as a foul.
Boone was upset by the decision. After a short argument with the umpires, he spat out his gum and threw it onto the field. Rehak ejected him from the game. Soon after, LeMahieu was also ejected. After the game, LeMahieu said he told the umpire the call was “brutal” and said he did not use any profanity. He also said he had said worse to umpires in the past and had not been thrown out.
Boone’s ejection on Sunday was the 32nd of his managerial career. He has managed 821 games – a number that puts him among some of the most frequently ejected managers in Major League Baseball history, alongside names like Bobby Cox, John McGraw, Leo Durocher, Earl Weaver, and Tony La Russa.
While this was the first time the Yankees had been swept in a series this season, they still sit in first place in the American League East. On Monday, they return home for a four-game series against the Los Angeles Angels at Yankee Stadium.
